Alienware 17 R3 - What BIOS are you all on?

What BIOS is everyone using on the AW17 R3?

 

The AW15R2 is the same machine in a smaller shell. Anyway I use 1.2.2 it is the safest bios out there and I do not notice any bugs luckily.

 

I'm now on 1.2.12 with absolutely zero sleep/shutdown issues.

My sons 17r3 is also on 1.2.12 with no issues since the bios was released.

I guess we will see how long they last if this bios' rumours are true.

 

1.2.2

 

I'm on 1.2.8 (what came with the laptop)

 

I was on 1.2.12 but lost the ability to overclock so I reverted to 1.2.2. I have yet to see someone able to OC on .12.

 

Overclocking works fine for my machine on 1.2.12. You lose the memory OC options but that's all.

 

Isnt 1.2.12 killing motherboards?

 

I think it is something else. Maybe being on 1.2.3 and upgrading to 1.2.12 was related to it, When I first bought the laptop it was on 1.2.3, I upgraded to 1.2.12 and it died. The replacement motherboard also came with 1.2.3, I upgraded that to 1.2.12 and what do you know, Dead within a day.
The second replacement and my sons laptop came with 1.2.2 and Ive upgraded them both to 1.2.12 and 3 weeks on they are still fine. I'm clutching at straws but maybe being on 1.2.3 initially and upgrading to 1.2.12 has something to do with it.

 

So let me get this straight...
You have had two motherboards that have died after flashing 1.2.12??
I guess I see what you mean about 1.2.3. Crazy lol
Im surprised 1.2.12 is still on there...
but in the same token perhaps thats why they pulled 1.2.3.

Is there a benefit over 1.2.12 over 1.2.2?

 

Yes my laptop from new died soon after upgrading to 1.2.12. Tech support replaced the mainboard a day later to another one but the agent was inexperienced and didn't have a clue what he was doing, so I think HE was the reason it died so soon because when I moved the laptop I could hear something rattling loosly inside.
The 2nd agent was much better and did a great job with the 2nd replacement board and this is the one that is still running now.

I think you get worse AGA performance on 1.2.12 from what I have read but I haven't got an AGA to test.

 

Interesting....one of my 17R3's died while on 1.2.3

Now I'm on 1.2.7 and so far so good....

So what is the best BIOS then? Stay on 1.2.7 or upgrade to 1.2.12?

 

I would say stay on 2.7 just in case 2.12 is the culprit.
I'm not even sure what sleep function they have disabled in 1.2.12 as mine still sleeps and wakes fine every time.

 

One of your AW17R3's just died yesterday from 1.2.3?

 

My 17R3 #2 did a few weeks back, sent it in, replaced the mobo and that's the one I've repasted yesterday.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

So what BIOS did you end up with? 1.2.2?

 

I'm on 1.2.2 now. Everything seems green and stable so far...

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

1.2.7 here no problem

 

All the negativity regarding BIOS 1.2.3 has got me spooked enough to downgrade to 1.2.2. When I tried doing this I got a Dell dialogue box saying the "Dell does not recommend changing to a previous BIOS version". Has anybody here gone from 1.2.3 back to 1.2.2?

I ask because some who have gone from 1.2.3 to 1.2.12 have bricked their boards. No thanks!!

 

I rolled back from 1.2.7 with no problems, I think @iunlock has just done the same and I'm sure @rinneh did also. Many here have rolled back with no issues so I reckon you'll be alright

 

1.2.12 here. I like to live dangerously.

 

LOL

 

How long have you been on that BIOS now?

 

Just over a week. The system's been good as gold so far. A little CPU UV + a little GPU OC and I'm at 7000 Firestrike (8000 Graphics), fans low. Once I've had a chance to reformat and make a decision regarding repasting I'll put some proper time into tweaking the system, but for now it's playing the games I want to play nicely so I'm not in a rush.